The southeastern United States is on high alert as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for several states. According to the NWS, there is a severe thunderstorm forecasted for the region on Sunday.
A significant warning has been issued for a wide area encompassing northwestern Georgia, as well as sections of southern Tennessee, northwestern Florida, southern Mississippi, and southern and eastern Alabama.
Why It Matters
The NWS issues a tornado watch when weather conditions have the potential to create severe storms and tornadoes, as stated on its website.
Residents are being encouraged to “be prepared” and “know their safe location” in this context.
“Be prepared to take immediate action if a tornado warning is issued or if you believe a tornado is approaching.”
What To Know
The tornado watch in Alabama is still in effect until 4 a.m. CST on Sunday for the following southern counties: Butler, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Baldwin, and Mobile.
The watch for central Alabama will remain in effect until 6 a.m. CST on Sunday. This watch covers the following counties: Barbour, Clay, Elmore, Macon, Randolph, Bullock, Cleburne, Lee, Montgomery, Russell, Chambers, Coosa, Lowndes, Pike, and Tallapoosa.
A tornado watch is currently in effect for several counties in Florida including Bay, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty, Washington, Calhoun, Gulf, Jefferson, Wakulla, Franklin, Holmes, Leon, and Walton. This watch will remain in effect until 10 a.m. CST on Sunday.
A tornado watch has been issued for 59 counties in Georgia until 9 a.m. EST on Sunday. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, Harrison and Jackson Counties are under a watch until 4 a.m. CST.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has a policy in place to issue a “warning” when they have spotted or detected a tornado through weather radar. This means that a tornado is either currently happening or is expected to occur soon. This “warning” carries a higher level of certainty compared to a “watch.”
On Wednesday, a tornado ripped through parts of southeastern Mississippi, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Footage from the affected area reveals the devastating aftermath, with houses damaged, trees uprooted, and roads obstructed by debris.
According to a report from local news outlet WDAM, the storm has left some individuals trapped in their homes. In response to the dangerous weather conditions, the Wayne County School District has decided to cancel classes on Thursday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued a warning, urging all residents in the affected area to seek shelter without delay.
In late December, a series of tornadoes wreaked havoc in the Houston area of Texas. Tragically, one person lost their life and four others sustained injuries in Brazoria County.
Reports of tornadoes have also emerged from El Campo in Wharton County and the Crosby area of Harris County.
In November, a tornado hit the vicinity of Granite, a town in southwestern Oklahoma, while the NWS issued a warning about hail the size of “golf balls.”
What People Are Saying
On Sunday morning, the NWS Atlanta branch took to X, formerly Twitter, to issue a warning about a tornado. The warning specifically mentioned areas like Stockbridge GA, Conyers GA, and Covington GA, and was in effect until 5:15 AM EST.
The NWS Tallahassee, Florida, branch issued a tornado watch for parts of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia until 10 AM EST.
The NWS office in Huntsville, Alabama, issued a tornado warning on Saturday evening, stating that multiple areas of rotation were detected on radar. The office urged everyone in the warned areas to seek shelter immediately, emphasizing that tornadoes can form rapidly within these storm systems. They advised against waiting to see or hear a tornado before taking action.
What Happens Next
The National Weather Service (NWS) will consistently monitor the tornado threat in the southeastern United States. They may upgrade one or more of the tornado watches to a tornado warning if they anticipate a twister to be imminent. It is important for local residents to stay updated with NWS updates and local weather forecasts, and to adhere to any safety advice provided.